Cancun, Mexico

Located on the Yucatan Peninsula in the eastern part of Mexico, Cancun is a popular resort community with millions of foreign visitors each year. Sometimes known as the Mayan Riviera or the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is world-renowned for white sandy beaches and a beautiful climate.

The Spanish conquest heralded the disappearance of Cancun’s native population which spoke the Mayan language and had a distinct culture. As far as Cancun’s modern development as a popular resort area, its origins stem from a 1967 study by the Bank of Mexico to see how it could capture more foreign dollars through the development of a tourism industry. After obtaining a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank to lay down the initial infrastructure, development was able to begin. Investors were reluctant to place money into Cancun because of the uncertainty, and the government had to finance the first several hotels. Over the next thirty years, the city grew exponentially, now fielding a population of over 600,000 people, and its reputation as a resort paradise is irrefutable.

Cancun’s climate is warm and tropical with cooling ocean breezes flowing throughout the city. Temperatures are in the 70s and 80s for much of the year, meaning that it is never exceedingly hot or excessively cold, but hotel rooms in the Hotel Zone are air-conditioned nonetheless. The storm season lasts from May to December, while the rainy season lasts into January with a peak in September. Large hurricanes are rare in the area, but they certainly do strike, most recently in 2005.

Tourism in Cancun revolves around the all-inclusive resorts that take advantage of the distinct culture and the agreeable weather to provide everything the vacationer needs. Downtown Cancun provides a distinct foil to the ritzy nature of the outlying resort communities who are known for pandering to wealthy tourists, creating a cultural separation.

Boston is the largest city and the capital of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, and as thus, is very important to economic, cultural, and political matters in the state. It is also the largest city in New England and is considered as the cultural and economic center of the entire region. The city features its own distinct atmosphere, dialect, and way of life.

Founded on September 17, 1630, Boston was originally a Puritan settlement established by English colonists to the New World. Popular theological thought at the time insisted that the city of Boston fit under the “City on the Hill” concept and that it had a special covenant with God. Over one hundred years later, the American Revolution was incited by Bostonians who were fed up with British taxation without representation. Notable events like the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and the Battle of Lexington and Concord occurred during this turbulent time. Throughout the 19th century, Boston experienced economic growth because of its harbor, as well as significant land growth because of land reclamation efforts that lasted over two hundred years. Today, Boston is an intellectual and political center whose influence extends across the region.

Boston is a very compact city due to the principles upon which it was built. The elevation stays rather constant throughout the city, but there are notable hills and such spread throughout the city. The Charles River reigns in the city limits of Boston, while Boston Harbor lies in the east. A continental climate pervades New England, moderated by the current, with hot and humid summers and cold, windy, snowy winters.

Boston’s culture is a very distinct subset of New England’s culture, with its own dialect called Boston English. Many people believe that Boston’s culture is intellectual in nature because of the many universities within the city. Renowned, ornate theaters, along with other performing arts venues, are spread throughout the city. Much of the city is historically preserved because of its importance to the American Revolution.

Points of Interest in Boston

Rio de Janeiro is the second major city of Brazil, second only to Sao Paolo. Several times during its history, it was the capital of Brazil, and it is commonly referred to as “The Marvelous City”. It is most famous internationally for its beautiful setting and its elaborate and large-scale Carnival festivals.

On January 20, 1502, Portuguese explorer Gaspar de Lemos discovered the area and gave it its name, which translates to “January River”. At that time, “river” was the general term for any large body of water. The first permanent European settlement was established in 1555 by French settlers, consisting of French Huguenots and Swiss Calvinists, but Portuguese settlers founded Rio de Janeiro at the foot of the Sugarloaf Mountain. By the end of the 1500s, the Portuguese crown acknowledged the village as a strategic location and aided in the build of fortresses. The city was historically threatened by French pirates and native raiders until the 18th century. For most of the 19th century, the city was the capital of the area, and from then until today, the city saw an expansion from its restricted historic downtown area to a thriving tourist Mecca.

Over six million people live in Rio de Janeiro, which takes up a space of 456 square miles, while the greater metropolitan area has over eleven million people. Rio de Janeiro has a tropical climate, which means that temperatures are generally warm throughout the year and rarely reach extremes. Cool breezes from the ocean moderate the temperature of the city.

As far as Brazilian culture goes, Rio de Janeiro is very important. The Brazilian urban music scene originated in Rio de Janeiro, a representation of the problems that the inhabitants of the city faced. Rio de Janeiro exists as a symbol of Brazilian culture and social structure, with a freedom of expression that covers many of the important topics in Brazilian life. Held forty days before Easter, the Carnival festivals held throughout the city attract many tourists and are iconic of the city’s culture.

As Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage holds two-fifths of the entire state’s population. Anchorage’s population is just over 350,000. Named an All-America City several times in its history, Anchorage is known for its ability to adapt to a climate which is extremely unusual to the rest of the United States.

Established in 1914 as a railroad construction port for the Alaska Railroad, Anchorage had humble beginnings as a tent city with a working population. Originally the city’s economy was based on the railroad, but by the 1950s, the city experienced a massive boom due to an increased amount of air transportation and military presence. Anchorage’s development was dramatically halted in 1964 when the Good Friday Earthquake, a stunning magnitude 9.2 quake, struck Alaska, killing 115 Alaskans and causing $1.8 billion dollars worth of damage. The rest of the decade was devoted to reconstruction of the city. An oil boom in 1968 caused massive growth once again in the city, and from then until today, Anchorage has experienced much expansion and beautification.

Anchorage sits in south central Alaska on a strip of coastal lowlands. To the south is a fjord with record-breaking tides called the Turnagain Arm, while Knik Arm lies to the north and west. The Chugach Mountains reign the city limits in to the east. A subarctic climate means that Anchorage experiences lows in the mid 50s and highs in the mid 70s during the summer, and lows in the single digits and highs in the 30s during the winter. Summer days are very long and winter days are very short.

Alaskan culture is distinguishable from the rest of the United States because of its geographical situation. Along with performing arts, most of which taking place in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, and chamber music societies, cultural events in Anchorage include ice carving competitions and summer festivals. Several museums in Alaska, including the Alaska Museum of Natural History and the Oscar Anderson House Museum, are housed in Anchorage. Hockey is the most popular sport in Anchorage and the Alaska Aces is one of the city’s two professional sports teams.